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Raccoon Survives Dramatic Fall During Rescue in Downtown Kalamazoo

Posted at 2:13 PM, May 20, 2014
and last updated 2014-05-20 15:51:26-04

*ABOVE AT 39 SECONDS: SEE RAW VIDEO OF THE FALL; AND HEAR THE CROWD APPLAUDING AFTER ANIMAL SURVIVES*

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Emergency crews were called to a building in downtown Kalamazoo Tuesday afternoon to rescue a raccoon several stories high.

A crowd gathered at the corner of Eleanor and N. Rose Street to watch as animal control, along with the help of public safety officers, tried to rescue the animal which was stranded for about an hour.

A public safety officer told FOX 17 News that an animal control crew first tried to rescue the raccoon from the top of the building before the fire department was called to the scene with its ladder to assist.

As the crowd watched closely from the ground, a control officer climbed the ladder against the Rose Street Market Building.  When the officer tried to scoop up the animal, the crowd erupted in a gasp as the raccoon fell several stories from the building and missed a net beneath.

The raccoon survived the fall, but was bleeding.  The Kalamazoo County Animal Services and Enforcement said the raccoon was transported to a rehabilitation facility and will not be euthanized.

Here is iPhone video from FOX 17’s Deanna Falzone at the scene…

raccoon closeup

raccoon 2